UK edges towards 'double summertime' time change

Published on 21-02-2011 01:00 AM

Proposals to move UK clocks forward in line with most of Europe could take a step closer to reality as with an expected endorsement from the Government's official tourism strategy, which is due for release this week.

The plan to bring in British Summer Time + 1 or 'Double summertime' under the new 'tourism strategy' is backed by David Cameron, road safety campaigners and doctors.

It is also supported by tourism chiefs in England, who say the number of overseas visitors would increase if summer evenings were lighter and boost the economy by £3.5billion a year.

The 'Lighter Later' campaign also claim changing the clocks would cut our carbon emissions by at least half a million tonnes every year.

However, the plan is opposed by Scottish officials who say darker mornings would increase the number of road accidents and make it more dangerous for children traveling to school.

The National Farmersí Union in Scotland has been one of the main opponents to the proposal as agricultural workers in the far north of the country would suffer disproportionately during the dark mornings.

However, they said they would consider a trial of daylight saving if it benefited Britain as a whole.

The Coalition are expected to include the historic plan in a new 'tourism strategy' to be published ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

While the proposal would shift the clocks forwards by two hours ahead of GMT in the summer, it is not known if it would be shifted one hour ahead GMT in the winter.

Conservative MP Rebecca Harris, told The Sunday Telegraph: 'The tourism industry has been crying out for extra daylight saving for years. It could extend the tourist season and boost the economy by up to £3.5billion a year.

'And we would have longer, lighter evenings.'

Ms Harris has led calls for a three-year trial of double summertime.

British Summer Time was first brought in to boost the war effort in 1916 and is now recorded in law by the Summer Time Order of 2002.

Between 1968 and 1971, a British Standard Time was tested, which saw the clocks not put back during winter and stay one hour ahead of GMT all year round.

Statistics showed that 2,500 fewer people were seriously injured or killed on the roads during this time.

The Prime Minister is determined that Britain should have a 'united time zone'. So any change would likely apply to Scotland as well.